Wintertime Brews

With their brilliant, copper hues and hearty flavor profiles, these beers are perfect for cold, frosty days.

By Kristine Hansen

When coming in from the cold, depart from the obvious hot cocoa drink and instead unwind with one of these hearty, copper beers. Consider pairing with a stew, soup or roasted vegetables.

Upland Brewing Company “Winter Warmer Barley Wine” (Bloomington, Indiana): After a “bite” of tannins, this beer climaxes into a smooth finish.

Summit Brewing Company “Winter Ale” (St. Paul, Minnesota): Marked with cola flavor, the beer is flawless and consistent. It also has a long finish. Of the beers tasted, it’s the most fragrant and the heaviest.

Magic Hat Brewing Company “Roxy Rolles” (South Burlington, Vermont): With a hoppy, musty finish and a nose like that of a Sauvignon Blanc, this beer is much lighter than the others.

Goose Island “Mild Winter” (Chicago): Brewed in the style of English Mild Ale, Goose Island’s Mild Winter is rich, layered and has a metallic finish.

Anderson Valley Brewing Company “Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale” (Boonville, California): Solar power drives the brewing and production of this very smooth, very effervescent beer. It has cola notes and a sparkling warmth that relaxes into a long finish.

Bell’s Brewery Inc. “Winter White Ale” (Kalamazoo, Michigan): The lightest in body, this brew carries orange and spice notes along with a finish tinged with cinnamon. A nose of coriander and smokiness kicks off the experience and reappears, mid-palate.

Blue Moon Brewing Company “Full Moon Winter Ale” (Golden, Colorado): This Belgian-style ale, which contains notes of caramel, doesn’t waver and is even-tempered all the way through to its toffee-laced finish.